2013 Indian Premier League Spot fixing and sports betting case

Author: Shruti Saxena, a student at New Law College, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune.

Introduction

In India, cricket is one of the most revered and passionately followed sports. The Indian Premier League or IPL or Tata IPL was established in the year 2008 following India’s inaugural win at the T20 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2007. Pioneered by BCCI under the chairmanship of Mr. Lalit Modi. The IPL was introduced a franchise based model, revolutionizing cricket by incorporating elements of entertainment and commercialism. The Indian Premier League is hosted annually with players from all over the world. The IPL introduced a franchise- based model, similar to that of major sports leagues such as the English Premier League or the NBA, allowing city based teams to compete for championship.  

The inaugural season featured eight franchise, auctioned to the highest bidders , generating significant revenue and catching media attention. The league not only transformed cricket into commercial powerhouse but also integrated Bollywood glamour and entertainment coining the term ‘cricketainment’. Over the years IPL has transformed into one of the most lucrative and popular cricket leagues globally, significantly impacting player careers and reshaping the land of cricket in India and beyond. 

The 2013 IPL Spot fixing and betting case-

The 2013 IPL spot-fixing and betting case came into limelight when the Delhi Police restrained three cricketers—S. Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila, and Ankeet Chavan- on charges related to spot-fixing. The three players in the 2013 Indian Premier League were part of the Rajasthan Royals franchise. Spot Fixing refers to an act of players deliberately manipulating specific events within a match, such as bowling a no ball or conceding runs at predetermined moments, without affecting the overall outcome of the game. This practice involves a pre-arrangement between the players and bookies, where players agree to perform certain actions in exchange of money. Spot fixing undermines the integrity of cricket, eroding public trust and prompting regulatory bodies like the Board of Control for Cricket in India to implement stricter measures to combat corruption in the sport. 

The IPL council subsequently convened and determined that the players involved would face stringent penalties. In a related case, the Mumbai Police apprehended Vindu Dara Singh, diamond dealer Priyank Sepany and Gurunath Meiyappan, the team principal of Chennai Super Kings, on charges of illegal betting. Raj Kundra, the then owner of Rajasthan Royal franchise was arrested too. 

In July 2015, the RM Lodha Committee imposed a two year moratorium on the parties that were allegedly part of the spot fixing and betting scandal. The suspension was imposed on India Cements and Jaipur IPL, the owners of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. Additionally, Sreesanth, Chandila and Chavan were acquitted of all charges after the Patiala House Courts found them not guilty. However, in January 2016, Chandila received a life ban from all forms of Cricket imposed by BCCI. 

Comprehensive Analysis 

Neeraj, also known as Vaathu, was apprehended at a friend’s residence, while Ankeet Chandila and Ajit Chavan were arrested at their team hotels in Mumbai. The Rajasthan Royals temporarily ceased all the contracts of the players involved, till the investigation came to an end. Delhi police avowed that Chavan, who confirmed his engrossment in the scandal’s background. In addition to this, authorities assert that Chandila endeavored to bring on board other players, including Chavan, into spot fixing activities under the directions of bookies.

On June 4, 2013, Delhi police announced that Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila, Ankeet Chavan and 23 other individuals arrested in connection with the spot fixing scandal would face charges under the provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). This action was based on allegations that they were operating under the directives of underworld figures Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Shakeel.  

Delhi Police Chief Neeraj Kumar revealed that they had been surveilling phone calls since April 2013. He further noted, “Future arrests will involve bookies, and no additional players will be apprehended.” The international cricket counsel removed umpire Asad Rauf from the Champions trophy following reports that the Mumbai police were investigating his involvement in the IPL spot fixing scandal. 

Arrest of Bookies- 

A bookie by the name of Sunil Bhatia, was apprehended by the Delhi police, and he owned up to the police that he was involved in match fixing not only for the Indian Premier League but also the Indian Cricket League and Bangladesh Premier League. This revelation fueled speculation that the fixing scandal could have far-reaching implications.Yahya Mohammad, during the early hours of May 24, 2013 was taken into custody at Rajiv Gandhi International airport in Hyderabad for his alleged involvement in cricket betting activities.

A bookie with the name Vinod Mulchandani was taken into custody by the Ahemdabad Crime Branch in satellite area of Ahemdabad on May 25, 2013. Authorities confiscated 1, 28, 00,000 INR in cash in company with laptops and mobile phones in his possession. 

Vindu Dara Singh was arrested for his suspected connections to bookies involved in the spot-fixing scandal. He was subsequently released on bail by a Mumbai court on June 3, 2013.

Gurunath Meiyappan Case 

Call records of Vindu Dara Singh in relation to the betting scandal indicated that he maintained frequent communication with Gurunath Meiyappan, the team principal of Chennai Super Kings and son-in-law of BCCI President N. Srinivasan. To ascertain whether these repeated contacts pertained to betting activities, the Mumbai Police issued a summons to Meiyappan. On May 24, 2013, Gurunath Meiyappan was arrested on charges of betting, conspiracy, and cheating following questioning by the Mumbai Crime Branch. In the wake of his arrest, the CSK franchise promptly distanced itself from him. In a media statement unleashed the very day, by India Cements, who have ownership of CSK franchise, formally stated: “Mr. Meiyappan is neither the owner nor the CEO/Team Principal of Chennai Super Kings. He is merely an honorary member of the management team.” The immediate disavowal was primarily motivated by concerns that his arrest could lead to the termination of the CSK franchise under Clause 11.3 (c) of the Franchise Agreement, which stipulates that a franchise may be terminated immediately if any franchisee or associated party acts in a manner that materially adversely affects the reputation or standing of the League, BCCI-IPL, BCCI, the Franchisee, or the game of cricket.

Raj Kundra Case- 

On June 5, 2013, Raj Kundra, co-owner of the Rajasthan Royals, was interrogated by the Delhi Police regarding his alleged involvement in illegal betting activities. The following day, the police claimed that Kundra had confessed to placing bets on his own IPL team through a bookmaker who was a personal acquaintance. On June 7, the management of Rajasthan Royals announced that Kundra would be suspended and that all his shares in the team would be revoked if the betting charges against him were substantiated. Consequently, on June 10, 2013, he was suspended from the IPL by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Supreme Court observations

On March 25, 2014, the Supreme Court of India instructed N. Srinivasan to voluntarily resign from his position as BCCI President to facilitate a fair investigation into the betting and spot-fixing allegations against his son-in-law, Gurunath Meiyappan, who served as the team principal of Chennai Super Kings. The Court expressed its disapproval, stating it was “nauseating” that Srinivasan continued to hold the presidency amidst the ongoing inquiries. The Court indicated that if he did not step down voluntarily, it would issue a formal order requiring his resignation to ensure the integrity of the investigation.

Mukul Mudgal Committee- 

In October 2013, the Supreme Court of India established a three-member committee led by Justice (Retd.) Mukul Mudgal to investigate the allegations of betting and spot-fixing that emerged during the 2013 Indian Premier League (IPL). The committee’s mandate was to thoroughly examine the claims surrounding corruption in the league and to provide a comprehensive report on its findings.

The committee comprised notable members, including Additional Solicitor General of India L. Nageswara Rao and senior advocate and former cricket umpire Nilay Dutta. Additionally, former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly was appointed to assist in the investigation process, bringing his expertise and experience in cricket to the proceedings.

The committee conducted an extensive inquiry and submitted its report to the Supreme Court in February 2014. The findings of the Mukul Mudgal Committee were significant, as they provided insights into the extent of corruption within the IPL and identified key individuals involved in illegal activities. The report concluded that while N. Srinivasan, then-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), was cleared of direct involvement in spot-fixing, it was noted that BCCI officials were aware of his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan’s betting activities but failed to take appropriate action.

The investigation highlighted that Gurunath Meiyappan was involved in betting, though he was exonerated from spot-fixing charges. It also revealed that Raj Kundra, former owner of Rajasthan Royals, had connections with bookmakers. The implications of the committee’s findings led to significant discussions regarding governance and accountability within cricket administration in India.

Conclusion 

The 2013 IPL spot-fixing and betting scandal marked a turning point for cricket in India, exposing deep-rooted corruption within the sport. The involvement of players, team officials, and prominent individuals highlighted the need for stringent regulatory measures to safeguard the integrity of the game. Investigations by law enforcement agencies and committees, such as the Mukul Mudgal Committee, revealed critical lapses in governance and accountability, prompting significant reforms in cricket administration. The scandal led to suspensions, life bans, and legal action, demonstrating that no individual or entity is above scrutiny. While the events tarnished the league’s reputation, they also served as a catalyst for greater transparency and ethical oversight in cricket. The IPL emerged resilient, continuing to thrive as a global cricketing spectacle while reinforcing the importance of integrity, fair play, and trust in the sport. The episode remains a reminder of the ongoing battle against corruption in sports worldwide.

FAQS

  1. What is the punishment for match fixing?

The punishment could include a fine of INR 10 lakhs or five times the benefit derived from such match fixing.

  1. Are there any laws covering match fixing in India?

There is no as such law that covers match fixing in India. Investigating authorities usually books the accused for cheating under section 420 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. 

  1. What are the consequences of match fixing?

A person can face various penalties such as lifetime ban from the sport or criminal prosecution. 

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